Door latching and operating mechanism



June 30, 1953 e. w. WAY 2,643,906

nooa LATCHING AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed April 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIII 'IIIIIIII. y

49 :58 2 50 l4 7 o O I/ 48 23 \J a g z $53 l 22 20 I O g r J22- b O 6 55 47 4 44 s E o 45 INVENTOR.

iAEN/V 14/. W47

A TTOR/VEYS June 30, 1953 G. w. WAY

DOOR LATCHING AND OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed April 6, 1950 2 ShQetEbSheet 2 I I111 91111111: I

I 7111111 r1/111111 I a J I INVENTOR. 620v 14 W77 Ill/ .111 '1/1/11 I W W} M I ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1953 DOOR LATCHIN G AND OPERATING MECHANISM Glenn W. Way, Delaware, Ohio Original application April 6, 1950, 'Serial No.

154,253. Divided and this application August 10,1951, Serial No. 245,386

2 Claims.

1 My invention relates to door latchmg and operating mechanism. It has to do, more particularly, with mechanism which is associated with a sliding door, such as the sliding door of a panel delivery truck, which slides between closed pos tion over the door opening and open position in a Wall pocket at one side of the opening.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 154,253; filed April 6, 1950.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide latching and operating mechanism associated with a sliding door of the type indicated above which is so designed and associated with the sliding door and opening that the door can be moved from closed position to a completely open position, where it is completely within the wall pocket, thereby exposing the entire opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide latching and operating mechanism associated with a. door of the type indicated which will serve to latch the door effectively in open position or in closed position.

A. further object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the type indicated which. can be actuated by the driver from inside or outside the. truck. body when the door is in open position in the wall pocket, not only to release the door but also to force it from the wall pocket towards closed position.

Still another object of my invention is to pro-- formed as usual within the double wall of the truck body without increasing the thickness of such wall.

Still another object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the type indicated which is so arranged and is so easy to operate that the driver can release and open the door from inside the truck body with ease even though his arms. are full of'packages or other articles.

An additional object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the type indicated wherein the various units thereof are so mounted that they can be adjusted to compensatefor twists, strains, slippage; et cetera, which normally and naturally occur in truck bodies.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism of the type indicated which is rugged and ismade of relatively few parts, the parts being of such a nature that they can be produced by relatively cheap stampin operations and can be assembled with ease; thereby providing a lowcost mechanism.

Various other objects will be apparent.

According to my'invention the door of the truck body which slidesbetween closed position over the opening" and opened position within the pocket, is provided with a lock assembly on that edge which is the leading edge as it moves into closed position. A latch and door opener assembly is disposed for cooperation with the lock assembly,

' when the door is in closed position, at the adjacent edge of the opening; A latch and door closer assembly is provided at the opposite edge of the opening within the door-receiving wall pocket but at the outeredge thereof.

The lock. assembly includes a keeper which 00- operates with either of the latch assemblies when the door is in its closed or opened position. When moved into closed position, the keeper of the lock assembly is automatically engaged by the latch of the associated latch assembly. The keeper of the lock assembly can be moved to release such latch by a handle provided outside the door. The latch can be actuated by a handle inside' the truck body not only to release it from v the keeper but to produce a camming action on the keeper to force. the door into opened position. When the door reaches opened position, completely within the pocket, the keeper of the lock assembly is automatically engaged by the latch of v the. associated latch assembly. This latch can be actuated by a handle, either from inside or outside the truck :body, not only to release it from the keeper but to produce a camming action on the keeper to force the. door from the pocket towards closed position.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters or reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure, 1 is an inside view of a sliding truck body door having my mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the latch and door closer assembly showing the lock assembly associated therewith to latch the door in opened position.

Figure 3' is a similar View of the latch and door opener assembly showing the lock assembly assogi'ated therewith to latch the door in closed posiion.

Figure 4 is an inside perspective view of the latch and door opener assembly.

Figure 5 is an outside perspective view of such assembly.

Figure 6 is an inside perspective view of the latch and door opener assembly.

Figure '7 is an outside perspective view, partly broken away, of the lock assembly.

Figure 8 is an inside perspective view of such assembly.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of the key-locking mechanism of the lock assembly.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated in Figure 1 an application of my door latching and operating mechanism. In this instance, the mechanism is applied to a truck body H! of the delivery type which has a sliding door H at the side thereof which is associated with a door opening I2. In closed position, the door is moved forwardly over the opening 12 and in open position, it is moved rearwardly into a pocket 13 behind the opening which is formed between the inner and outer surfaces of the side wall of the truck body. In Figure l, I have shown the door in full line position in partially closing relationship to the opening. In dotted line position, I have illustrated the door in opened position.

On the forward edge of the door, I provide the lock assembly illustrated generally by the numera1 l4. Adjacent the forward edge of the door opening 12, I provide the latch and door opener assembly illustrated generally by numeral it. This assembly (5 will cooperate with the assembly 54 when the door is in closed position. At the rear edge of the opening {2 and within the pocket I3, I provide the latch and door closer assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 46. This assembly l5 will cooperate with the lock assembly l 4 when the door is in opened position.

The lock assembly 14 is illustrated best in Figures l, 3, and 7 to 9. This assembly includes a keeper l! which is mounted for vertical movement relative to the face plate 18 by means of bolts i9 passing through the keeper. This keeper is provided with a latch-retaining flange 20 at its forward edge which has a vertically disposed latchengaging portion 29:; at its upper end and an inclined cam edge 2% at its lower end. The flange carries on its inner surface a rubber bumper in the form of a button 2!. The keeper is further provided with a latch-retaining notch 22 in its upper edge and with an inclined cam edge 23 between the notch 22 and the rear edge of the keeper. An additional upstanding cam edge 24 is formed on the keeper at the forward side of the notch 22. The lower edge of the keeper is provided with a pair of spaced notches 25, the purpose of which will be apparent hereinafter.

The bolts l9 extend into pins 19a which ar anchored in the vertically movable slide lock bolt 21 and extend through the vertical slots 26 which are formed in the face plate It. The pins 19a are provided with enlarged portions 28 which engage the edges of the slots 26. A lock case 29 receives the slide bolt 2'! and guides its vertical movement. A compression spring 30 is provided in the lower part of the lock case and normally forces the slide bolt 27 upwardly, as shown in Figure 9. The slide bolt 21 carries the slide bolt operating pin 3| which extends from the rear side thereof through a vertical guide slot 32 formed in the rear wall of the lock case 29, the pin 31 also being provided with an enlarged portion 33 which engages the edges of the slot. In addition, at a point spaced below the pin 31, a second pin 34 is provided on the slide bolt 27 and projects rearwardly therefrom through a vertical guide slot in the rear wall of the lock case. This pin 34 is provided with an enlarged portion 36 on its projecting end which cooperates with slot 35 and with an aligning slot 31 formed in the guide member 38 which is welded to the rear wall of the lock case. A handle lever 39 which is normally substantially horizontally disposed is pivoted intermediate its ends to the outer end of the pin 3|. The rear end of this lever is provided with a hand-engaging portion 40 and its forward end is pivoted to the outer end of a pin 4! which is anchored to the lock case 29. Pressing downwardly on the handengaging portion 40 will swing the lever 39 about pivot pin ti which, in turn, will move the slide bolt 21 downwardly against the force of spring 30. As soon as lever 39 is released, the spring 36 will return the slide bolt 21 to its uppermost position.

The lock assembly 44 is mounted on the inside face of the door ll (Figure l) by means of retaining bolts 42 which are passed through suitable aligning openings in the face plate 18 and lock case ii) of thelock assembly. These bolts will pass through or into aligning openings in the door H. The case 29 (Figure '7) will be spaced from the door surface by the outwardly turned flange 29a so as to provide room for operation of handle lever 39 and movement of pin portion 36. The portion 40 of the handlemay extend through a slot 40a into a well 4017 in the outer surface of the door. 7 Consequently, the bolt 21 can be operated by means of handle portion 49 from outside the door. A bolt locking member 43 is mounted for lateral movement directly below the keeper I1 within a retaining clip Me which is welded to the face plate Hi. This locking member 43 is provided with outwardly extending vertically disposed flanges 44. Normally, the flanges M are in alignment with the notches 25 in the keeper ll, friction being relied upon to hold member 43 in such position. Consequently, vertical movement of the keeper withthe slide bolt 27 will normally be permitted. However, when member 43 is moved laterally so that flanges 44 are out of alignment with notches 25, the flanges will engage the lower edge of keeper H and prevent downward movement thereof.

To look the slide bolt 21 and keeper H with a key from outside the door, the key-operated mechanism shown in Figure 10 is provided. This is preferably provided on that door which is on the right side of the truck only. It comprises a key-actuated sliding bolt 65 which is mounted for sliding movement transversely of main bolt 21 in the guide member 38. The inner end of member 45 is forked to provide an upper longer finger 45a and a lower shorter finger 45b. The

member 45 is moved back and forth in guide member 38 by means of a rotatable key cylinder 450 which has a rocker arm 3501 that is pivotally connected to the outer end of the slide bolt 45. With member 45 in the position shown in Figure 10, the slide bolt 27 cannot move downwardly because pin portion 36 engages finger 45?). However, if the cylinder 450 is rotated to move member 35 to the left, finger 451) will be moved from beneath portion 36 but finger 45a will still contact therewith. This will permit downward movement of the slide bolt 21 and keeper ll. v r g sesame The latch assembly" l5 which is adjacent the forward edge of the opening i2 is shown best in Figures 1, 3, and 6'. It includes abase plate: 36 which has an inwardly turned angle flange ti on its rear edge thatis provided with openings for receiving the bolts 48' which are passed: into the wall of the truck body. The rear edge of the base plate is provided with vertical slots: 49 through which the bolts 50 are-passed into the truck body. When base plate $6 is mounted on the truck body (Figure 6) the bolts 5i? are first. used to secure it in place, it being apparent that spacer sleeves 5'! are provided between thewall and the plate 56. The vertical position of the plate 65 can be readily adjusted due to the provision of the slots 49 and the distance of the rear edge of the plate from the wall surface can. be varied by using spacers of different'size. After the plate 46 is properly positioned, the bolts 48 are inserted to hold it in a fixed position.

Pivoted to the inner face of the base plate- 46 is the latch lever 52 This lever is carried by the pivot pin 53 mounted on the plate 46- adjacent its forward edge and intermediate its upper and lower edges. The latch 52 is pivoted towards its rear end and is providedwith a projecting latching portion 54' adjacent its rear and upper corner. This portion 54 is-adapted tocooperate with the upstandingflange portion 20a of the keeper l1. Adjacent its lower and rear corner the latch 52 is provided with a projecting portion 55 which carries a cam roller 56 that is; adapted to cooperate with the cam portion 20b of the keeper l1. Therear end of the latch lever 52 is provided with a handle 5'!- which projects inwardly. at right angles therefrom. The rear end of the latch lever 5.2 is normally swung upwardly by means of a spring 58 which is disposed behind the plate 46 and is connected to a spring hanger clip 59 at the upper edge thereof. The lower end of the spring is connected to the. latch lever by means of a pin 6!] carried by the lever and extending inwardly through an arcuate' slot 6| in the plate 46. It will be noted that the outer surface of the latch portion 54- is shaped to provide a curved cam edge 62..

As the door i2 is moved into closed position, the upper edge of the latch-retaining portion 20d of keeper I! will contact the cam edge 62. of. latch portion 54 since lever 52 will normally be held in its lowermost position by spring 58. This contact will force the latch portion 5 1 upwardly until it snaps over the upper end of the latchretaining portion 20a of the keeper IT. The roller 56 will be spaced sufficiently from cam portion 20b of thekeeper at this time to permit the desired degree of upward movement of the latch lever 52-. The door will now be latched in closed position.

To open the door from the inside of the truck, the handle 57 is pushed downwardly either with the hand or the foot. This raises the latch portion 54 from engagement with the retaining portion 20a and at the same time swings the roller 56 rearwardly into engagement with the cam portion 20b of the keeper N. This will actually force the door ll rearwardly and if the handle 5'! is depressed in a reasonably brisk manner, it will push the door into completely opened position and latch it in such position. In case the driver is outside the truck body at the time it is desired to open the door, he merely pushes downwardly on the handl lever 39 and will move the keeper ll downwardly, provided member 43 is in proper position, that is, in unlocking posilatch lever 1-2.

tion. Downward movement of the: keeper Hi will.

release the latch portion. 54 from retaining portion 20a and will again. cause cam portion 20b.

to' contact roller 56 and open the door; it being.

understood that pin 68 will contactwwith the upper end of slot 61 to limit downwardmove-n Handle 39 will not? project tially triangular form and which has the inturned.

angular flanges 6B and El at its: upper and lower ends. The plate 66 is mountedxonthe inside wall of the pocket. 53, the upper portion 56" being provided with a. horizontal slot 58 for this pure pose and the lower portion 61 being provided with. a. pair of horizontal slots' (it for thisv purpose Bolts. 10' may be. passed through these slotsinto.

the wall of the pocket and the slots will facilitate adjustment. of the plate 65 to properly position the latch assembly relativeto the outer edge 1 of the pocket and the rear edge of: the door opening. The. plate 65. is provided with a.flat depressed surface H intermediate its upper and lower ends.

Mounted on the inner faceof the plate 6.5 is a This lever 12 isv also of substantially triangular form and is pivoted. at its upper smaller end' by a pivot pin 13' to the upper end of the plate 65. Adjacent the lower end of the lever 12, it: is provided. with. an arcuateguide slot 14 which receives-a pin 15, the pin being anchored to plate 65 and having a head to prevent. outward movement of the lower end. of lever 12 away from plate 65. The lower end: of the lever 12' is provided with a forwardly projecting door closing handle portion 16 which. extends to the. outer edge of the pocket 13. The edge of the pocket It is cut away, as at IT, at both its inner and outer walls to facilitate engagement of. the. handleportion 16. The handle portion ifiis provided with an inturned flange 18 which carries. a bumper in the form of a. rubber button T9 on.v its inner surface adjacent its lowerend. Between the pivot pin 13 and the pin 75, the latch: lever 12 carries the latch-engaging roller? and the door closing roller 8!, the former being disposed adjacent the forward edge of lever 12' and the latter being disposed adjacent the rear edge of. lever 12:, roller 80 being slightly higher than roller- 81. The depressed area l'l of plate 65 is provided to receive the ends of the roller=sup-- porting shafts, as. shown. in Figure 4'. The lever T2. is retained in its rearwardmost position by means of spring. 82 havingits' upper end anchored. thereto and which extends downwardly and; rearwardly and: is anchored by acl ip 82a to the wall of the pocket I3.

When the door H is moved into the pocket I3 in open position, as the keeper l1 moves into association with the latch assembly I6, the inclined cam edge 23 of the keeper will first engage the roller 80 of latch lever 12. This will move the slide bolt 21 and keeper IT downwardly slightly permitting the roller 80 to snap into the retaining notch 22 of the keeper. Rearward movement of the latch lever 12 will be limited by contact of bumper button 19 with the edge of the cut away portion 11. The door will move completely into the pocket, as indicated in Figure 1.

The door can now be opened from either inside the truck body or outside the truck body merely by pulling forwardly on the handle portion 16. This will swing the lever 12 forwardly and upwardly to the right (Figure 2) and the roller 8| will move to the right faster than the roller 80 so that it will force the keeper ll to the right, causing the left side of the keeper notch 22 to cam against the roller 80 so as to move the keeper downwardly sufficiently to release the roller 80 from the notch 22. This not only releases the latching roller from the keeper but also forces the door outwardly from the pocket towards closed position.

It will be apparent from the above description that my mechanism is so designed that the door can be moved completely into the pocket but can be started in its movement therefrom merely by operating the handle 16. The assembly 16 is made of flat members so that it will not be necessary to increase the wall thickness of the truck body to provide a suitable door pocket. The base plate 65 can be adjusted on the wall to compensate for irregularities in the wall structure. The assembly 16 will not only serve to latch the door effectively in open position but also will serve to start its closing movement, moving it suificiently from the pocket [3 to be engaged by the driver.

The latch assembly [5 will serve to latch the door in closed position but can be operated to release the latch and simultaneously move the door into completely opened position. The plate :16 thereof can be adjustably mounted on the wall of the truck body so as .to compensate for irregularities thereof. The latch unit I5 can be released so easily by engaging the handle 51 that this can be accomplished by the driver even if his hands are full merelyby pressing on handle 51 with his foot.

The lock assembly M can be locked with a key when the door is closed and when unlocked can be actuated by the handle 39 to release the latch so that the door can be opened from outside the truck body.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A latch assembly for normally holding a door in open position but operable to start the door towards closed position comprising a flat base plate adjustably fastened in flat upright position to a support adjacent the path of movement of the door, said plate being provided with a depression intermediate its upper and lower ends, a flat latch lever mounted on the inner face of said base plate and having its upper end pivoted to said plate, said lever having an armate guide slot adjacent its lower end, a pin anchored to said base plate and extending through said slot, a door closing handle portion on the lower end of said lever and extending in the direction in which the dOOr moves towards closed position, said handle portion having an inturned flange provided with a bumper for engaging a stop on said support when the door is moved into completely open position, a keeper-engaging anti-friction roller carried by said lever adjacent its forward edge and intermediate the pivot point thereof and the pin anchored to said base plate, a door-closing anti-friction roller carried by said lever adjacent its rear edge intermediate said pivot point and pin but at a lower level than said first roller, said rollers being carried by shafts the ends of which extend into said depression in said base plate, a spring attached to said support and to the lower end of said lever for normally holding said bumper in engagement with said stop, said keeper-engaging roller engaging a retaining notch in a keeper carried by the door as the door moves into closed position to latch the door in such position, said door-closing roller engaging a cam edge on said keeper upon movement of said handle portion to cause said bumper tomove away from said stop to start the door towards closed position.

2. A latch assembly for normally holding a door in open position but operable to start the door towards closed position comprising a base plate fastened in upright position to a support adjacent the path of movement of the door, a latch lever having its upper end pivoted to said plate, a door-closing handle on the lower end of said lever and extending in the directionin which the door moves towards closed position, said handle engaging a stop on said support when the door is moved into completely open position,

a keeper-engaging anti-friction roller carried by said lever adjacent its forward edge intermediate its upper and lower ends, a door-closing antifriction roller carried by said lever adjacent its rear edge at a lower level than said first roller, a spring attached to said support and to said lever for normally holding said handle in engagement with said stop, said keeper-engaging roller engaging a retaining notch in a keeper carried by the door as the door moves into closed position to latch the door in such position, said door-closing roller engaging said keeper upon movement of said handle away from said stop to start the door towards closed position.

GLENN W. WAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'E'NTS Number Name Date 1,022,872 Raaths Apr. 9, 1912 1,102,220 Ahlstrom June 30, 1914 1,180,730 Masury Apr. 25, 1916 1,229,709 Brinckerhoff June 12, 1917 1,301,789 Howard Apr. 22, 1919 

